Beth made a noise that was only half stifled by toast. Mom reached across the table and held Jessica’s hand. “We want you to have friends, Jessica. We just want them to be the right friends and to make sure you’re safe.”

“Okay, Mom.”

“Anyway, I’m late. I’ll see you both tonight. Don’t be late for school.”

After she had left, Beth took the untouched toast from her mother’s plate and started to butter it, shaking her head.

“I’m remembering this conversation next time I get in trouble. You got Mom to redefine grounding in a whole new way. Nice work, Jessica.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“‘Have some toast, Mom.’ ‘Nice suit, Mom,’” Beth mimicked. “I’m surprised you didn’t make her an omelette.”

Jessica blinked, partly awestruck by what had just happened and partly confused by her own reaction. She’d been happy before her reprieve, but now she wasn’t so sure. A trickle of nerves had started in her stomach. Flying to safety with Jonathan every night had been wonderful, like a dream. But now she had no excuse to delay Rex’s plan, no good reason to put off going to the snake pit. She would have to face the darklings head-on.

“I’m not sure, Beth. I don’t think it was the toast.”

“Yeah, I bet Dad caved. He’s cracking up.”

Jess shook her head. “I don’t know. Mom seemed pretty intense about it, like she’s thought about it a lot.” She turned toward Beth. “But thanks for not mentioning that…walk I took Friday night.”

“Your secret is safe with me.” Beth smiled. “Until I find out what your secret is, that is. Then you’re dead.”

Jessica reached out and squeezed her sister’s hand. “I love you, Beth.”

“Ewww, no fair! Mom being all flaky is bad enough.”

Jessica frowned. “Maybe I just scared them, sneaking out like that.”

“Maybe,” Beth said, and shoved the last piece of bread into her mouth. “The whole thing’s scaring me.”

Later that morning, the library was dead quiet.

Jessica and Jonathan had been the big gossip for a couple of days, but the story was getting old. Now that it was the second week of school, work was starting to pile up. Everyone was actually using study period for studying. Even Constanza was reading what looked suspiciously like a history book.